Improvement in coal-scoops



' J. BALMORE.

Goal-Scoop.

No. 212,883. Patented Mar. 4,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOHN BALMORE, on NEW YonK, N. Y.

IM PROVEM ENT IN COAL -SCOOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,883, dated March 4, 1879; application filed March 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BALMORE, a resident of One hundred and eleventh street and First avenue, New York city, (Harlem,) in the county of'New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OoalScoops; and I do hereby de clare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved scoop for breaking down into a cargo of coal, particularly for plunging into and through rough irregular lumps of bituminous coal, stored in bulk, and removing it till the bottom of the cargo is reached, when an ordinary scoop may be used.

The invention consists of a scoop having a pointed or rounded end, and strong bearing lugs or cars at the top.

The improved scoop possesses the combined advantages of a crow-bar for breaking through lumps of coal and loosening up the embedded mass, and of a hollow scoop for raising out and removing a large measure of coal at a time. It facilitates the handling of coal by saving much of the labor and inconvenience arising from the use of a separate tool, as a crow-bar.

By reason of the new features a man may, with this scoop, perform the two operations of breaking through the lumps and embedded mass of coal, and at the same time take on the load for removal.

An ordinary scoop with a broad end has been found to be totally insufficient for breaking into, from the top, a cargo of coal stored on a barge or other vessel; and the ordinary spade or shovel, though serving somewhat as a crow-bar for breaking through the coal, does not possess the advantages of a scoop for removing a large measure of it at a time.

A scoop showing my improved construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The blade A is deep and capacious, like those of the ordinary kind, for holding a large measure of coal; but the lower end is given a pointed or rounded form, as shown at B, the cutting-edges extending diagonally from each side to a point 011 a line with the longitudinal center of the scoop or on a line with the handle.

The blade is secured to the handle D in the ordinary manner. The bearing lugs or ears 0 are formed by an extension of the metal forming the curved hollow blade brought up square, with their upper edges at right angles to the handle.

The upper edges of the metal forming the ears is folded or bent over, or thickened, for giving greater strength and firmness, which is required in the bearing or forcing down operation.

In fitting up the old form of scoop with my improvement, or in making new ones, the bearing-ears may be riveted or otherwise secured to the curved hollow blade.

For giving greater strength and durability to the scoop, the pointed end may be made of thicker metal than that ordinarily used, and the edges sharpened. This, however, is not usually necessary.

It is obvious that in using the scoop it is only necessary for the workman to place his foot upon the ears and bear down, when, by reason of the sharp-pointed end, it is readily forced through the lumps and impacted coal.

I am aware that a spade having a rectangular blade and suitable bearing-edges above is old, and that a shovel with a pointed end is also old, and I do not claim such features separately.

My improved scoop, having a deep hollow blade, is provided with a pointed or rounded end, and with angular bearing ears or lugs extending above the hollow blade, thus producing an implement in which a number of essential features are combined for new and useful purposes.

I therefore claim and desire to secure Letters Patent- A coal-scoop having a pointed or rounded end, and angular bearing ears or lugs extending above the hollow blade, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BALMORE.

Witnesses:

J o1-IN M. LONG, S. VAN NosTnAND. 

